Foldable rule.



0. L. BRUSH. POLDABLE RULE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6 1907.

RE. l

PATENTED JUNE 16. 1908.

CHARLES L. BRUSH, OF BOURNE, OREGON.

FOLDABLE RULE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1c, 1908.

Application filed May 6, 19(17 Serial No. 372,086.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. BRUsH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bourne, in the county of Baker and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Rules, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rules, and more particularly to foldable rules, and has for its object to provide a rule including means for holding the sections at times in folded and at times in unfolded positions.

Another object is to provide a rule of this kind including a retaining spring of novel structure facilitating the fastening thereof in position.

Other objects and advantages willbe apparent from the following description, and it will be understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the rule in folded position, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the rule in unfolded position. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the rule in closed position.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a rule including two sections 5 and 6,

having hinged members 7 and 8 respectively secured thereto. The member 7 includes spaced circular ears 9 of the usual ty e, and the member 8 includes an ear 10 ocated between the ears 9, the several ears having central perforations 11 therethrough, for the reception of a pivot pin 12. The member 7 has a longitudinally extending recess 13 formed therein and communicating with the space between the ears 9, this recess thus receiving a portion of the ear 10. As shown, the recess 13 extends beyond the ears 9 inwardly of the section 5, and opens through the outer edge of the member 7.

A block 14 is located in the recess 13, at the inner portion thereof, and has formed integral therewith, a springtongue 15 projecting from its inner portion and extending longitudinally of the member 7, to bear against the periphery of the ear 10. This car is provided with flattened peripheral portions 16, located to receive the spring tongue 15 thereagainst when the sections 5 and 6 are in certain positions with respect to each other, the tongue holding the sections yieldably in such position, as will be readily under stood. As will be seen, the block 14 rests against the outer end of the recess 13, and is confined by a plurality of transverse fasteners 17 passed therethrough, and through the member 7 to hold the block against move ment, and this block has a projection 18 formed integral therewith at its outer portion and extending longitudinally of the member 7 to close the portion of the recess 13 which lies beyond the ears 9, this projection thus preventing ingress of foreign matter to the recess, which might interfere with the operation of the rule.

What is claimed is,

1. A rule including two sections, a hinge member carried by each section, ears carried by one member in spaced relation to each other, said member having a recess therein communicating with the space between the ears, an ear carried by the other member and pivoted between the first named ears, a block secured within the recess, a spring tongue carried by the block and engaging the second named ear, and a projection carried by the block and in spaced parallel relation with the spring tongue and arranged to close a portion of the recess.

2. In a hinge for rulers, the combination with a member including spaced ears, of a member having an ear ivoted between the first named ears, said rst named member having a recess therein communicating with the space between the ears, ablock secured within the recess, a spring tongue carried by the block and engaging the second named ear, and a projection carried by the block and in spaced relation to the spring tongue and arranged to close a portion of the recess.

3. In a hinge for rulers, the combination with a member including spaced ears and having a recess therein communicating with the space between the ears and extending beyond said ears, of a second member having an ear pivoted between the first named ears, 4 In testimony. whereof a'ffix my signature, and a block secured in the recess, said block in presence of two witnesses.

having a spring tongue formed integral therei with and engaging the second named ear and CHARLES BRUSH having a projection formed integral there- Witnesses: with and located to close the portion of the WM. HIEGAND, recess beyond the ears. j C. F. KEAR. 

